:yay: GO KOVY!!!!!


Dallas -- There are probably better players in the NHL -- although not many -- but there might not be a more exciting one than Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk.

Fans recognize that, and that is why Kovalchuk, 20, was the leading vote-getter in the All-Star balloting with 145,380 and will be the first player in the organization's five years to start in the All-Star Game. The league announced the results on Thursday for the 2004 game, which will be Feb. 8 in St. Paul, Minn.

Kovalchuk entered Thursday's games tied for the league lead in points with 46. He ranks second in goals with 22. In his first season, he played in the NHL's young stars game.

Last season, with Dany Heatley having a better season and the Thrashers with too poor of a record to justify earning two reserves on the team, Kovalchuk did not make the team. Heatley went on to win the game's MVP award.

With Heatley having missed the entire season with torn knee ligaments, Kovalchuk's play has been a major factor in the Thrashers' first-place standing in the Southeast Division.

"It's my first time, so I think it will be a very fun time," Kovalchuk said. "You play with all of the best players at one time. I go there because we're all doing a great job. If my teammates played like last year, I wouldn't be first in points.

"We're all doing good and that's why. I think we can have a couple guys as all-stars this year. That's the result of good work for everybody."

If Kovalchuk is to be joined by a teammate, it would probably be center Marc Savard; however, Savard will miss all three games on this road trip because of a concussion and that could hurt his chances, especially if he is out for a prolonged period.

Kovalchuk was asked if he thought this meant the fans recognize him as an exciting player. Certainly, his celebrations after scoring goals have earned him notoriety.

"I never try to be like something special, I'm just a very emotional player," he said.